I wonder where the concrete is

We had a wonderful three days traveling about in warm sunshine, a couple of days on the bike and then a trip to Izmir for shopping and seeing a friend. We were going to do a blog post on spring flowers but it seems spring comes earlier in Muğla. It is definitely spring. On Monday we saw a stork over Pamucak, our first of the year.

The sun has now returned but it is colder. This morning some men appeared and fixed a metal support to the base of our stairs. Then the marble man came round to be paid. We decided to do some preparations for summer, painting in the back house, and a bit of spring cleaning. Today Ashley fixed the bracket holding the soba pipe to the wall of the terrace and did a few other bits around the place. Meanwhile across the road, some people arrived and started measuring the empty lot (the house was demolished last year). Then some workmen came with a load of wood beams and boards. This was followed by one enormous concrete pump and two mixers.

There was a bit of drama around where to park the concrete pump, but eventually on the third attempt it was resolved. Most of the neighbourhood came out to watch the proceedings. The pump could only be secured at the top of the street, so the pipe had to go right over a neighbour’s house and yard. A man with a remote control skilfully lined everything up correctly. Then the concrete started to flow. When it is dry it will leave a level surface for building on. It might take some time, the lot was not flat, the concrete is ankle deep at one end and at least a meter deep at the other. The wooden boards held back what must be a massive weight of wet concrete, we had visions of the stuff flowing down the street.

It is one of the things we like. There are places nearby with better views of the castle, but that is a fixed view, never changes. Every week there is something new and interesting happening on the street.